Assisted Living Discharge Rules in Virginia
The short answer: In Virginia, an assisted living home can only ask a resident to move for stated reasons, and it has to follow set timelines.12 Families should never be surprised.
- Planning starts right away. When a reason to move comes up, the home starts discharge planning and lets you know.
- About 30 days to move. The move is expected within 30 days, giving time to find the right next place.2
- 14 days' written notice. You get the actual date and destination in writing at least 14 days ahead.
- Emergencies only skip the notice. If there's an immediate, serious risk to your parent or others, the home must explain why, notify family by the end of the next day and follow up in writing within 5 days.
- A final accounting within 60 days, including any refund.
- Your notice is capped. If you choose to move, a home can't require more than 30 days' notice. At Woodhaven, our notice period is 30 days.
Our goal at Woodhaven is to care for residents as long as we safely can. Virginia does set limits on what any assisted living home can provide. For example, residents who depend on a ventilator can't be cared for in assisted living.3 If needs ever go beyond what we can do, I'll talk with you early and help you find the right next step.